They gave him up his orders
At Monroe, Virginia, saying
"Steve, you're way behind time!
This is not '38, but it's
Old '97, you must put her
In Spencer Island time."
Steve Brody said
To his black, greasy fireman:
"Just shovel on a little more coal!
And when we cross
that wide oak mountain,
just watch Old '97 roll!"
It's a mighty rough road
From Litsburg to Danville
And Lima's on a three mile grade
It was on this grade that
He lost his airbrakes
And you've seen what a jump he made!
He was going down grade
Making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle
Began to scream
He was found in the wreck
With his hand on the throttle
And was courted to death by steam
So come on, ladies,
You must take warning
From this time on!
And never speak harsh words
To your true-loving husband;
He may leave you and never return!
